A Brief History of High Heels & the Invention That Changed Fashion

What is a red carpet without high heels? Celebrities love to hit the step-and-repeat in their towering stilettos, whether in the form of closed-toe pumps, strappy sandals or sleek boots. The seemingly gravity-defying footwear lends an air of feminine power and sexuality to any ensemble, not to mention the fact that it enhances the shape the leg.

But very high heels have not always been the norm in footwear. In fact, while elevated heels date back over a millennia ...